Georgetown, Guyana 24 July 2026 – Guyana is advancing efforts to establish a National Pharmacovigilance Centre, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the country's regulatory oversight of medicines, vaccines, medical devices, and other health technologies. The workshop was facilitated by Robin Rojas, Technical Officer, and Catherine Parker and Gabriela Carrasco, International Pharmacovigilance Consultants (IPC), who provided technical expertise and guidance to support the development of a robust and sustainable national pharmacovigilance system.
The initiative is part of Guyana’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its national regulatory system following the adoption of the PAHO Policy and Resolution on Regulatory System Strengthening in 2022. With technical support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Government Analyst–Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) completed an assisted self-assessment using the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) and has since made progress in legislative and regulatory reforms, including the development of a new Medicines Regulation Bill.
Building on these efforts, a specialized pharmacovigilance workshop previously supported by PAHO identified key priorities for the country, including the introduction of VigiFlow, the global platform for reporting adverse drug reactions, and the establishment of a comprehensive national pharmacovigilance system aligned with the proposed legislation. The recent workshop focused on the establishment of a National Pharmacovigilance System at the GA-FDD, which will also fulfil an expanded function as a Post Market Surveillance System for control of sub-standard and falsified medical products.
“The establishment of a National Pharmacovigilance Centre is a critical investment in patient safety and public health,” said Dr. Kim Eva Dickson, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana. “A strong pharmacovigilance system enables us to detect safety concerns early, strengthen evidence-based regulatory decision-making, and maintain public confidence in medicines and vaccines.”
The Centre will enhance Guyana’s capacity to collect, manage, and analyze reports of adverse events associated with medicines and vaccines, while strengthening the country's participation in the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring. The initiative is expected to improve the timely identification of safety concerns and support informed regulatory action to protect public health.
Highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement, Ms. Tandeka Barton, Acting Director of the Government Analyst–Food and Drug Department, noted that pharmacovigilance relies on the collective efforts of healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, and the public.
“Pharmacovigilance is a shared responsibility, and every report contributes to better regulatory decisions, safer medicines, and improved patient care,” she said.
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, underscored the Government’s commitment to modernizing health systems and leveraging digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery across Guyana.
“There’s no going back. We’re pushing ahead. We want these systems to be in place, and we want the Ministry to be using all these different digital tools to ensure that we can deliver superior quality care,” Dr. Anthony said. “The challenge is not only introducing medicines but also continuously monitoring them throughout their life cycle to ensure they remain safe for the population.”
The establishment of the National Pharmacovigilance Centre represents an important step toward a stronger, more resilient regulatory system that prioritizes patient safety, supports evidence-based decision-making, and enhances public confidence in health products.
PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health and the GA-FDD throughout this process as Guyana continues to strengthen its regulatory capacity and safeguard the health of its population.
